Lavazza IncluCity Festival – Celebrating Diversity and Inclusion in Toronto’s Historic Distillery District

Lavazza IncluCity Festival: Celebrating Diversity and Inclusion in Toronto’s Historic Distillery District

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Toronto‘s historic Distillery District has come alive with the 2023 Lavazza IncluCity Festival, presented by ICFF, from June 27 to July 21, 2023. 

• Experience the 2023 Lavazza IncluCity Festival: A Fusion of Film, Art, Music, and Cultural Experiences

This annual event, now in its third edition, celebrates diversity, inclusion, and the spirit of unity through a fusion of film, art, music, and cultural experiences. 

• Outdoor Cinema and International Films at the Lavazza IncluCity Festival

The outdoor cinema features films from over 20 countries from a variety of genres. Some of the unique programs this year also include The Dark Side (horror films), Celebrating Anna Fendi (in Conversations and Gala), Architettura & Design, 6th Art Outdoor, AWA (African Women Acting) Music Showcase ‘N Movies and Il Perugino Exhibition (celebration of artist Pietro Vannucci).

• Indulge in Delicious Samples and Refreshments at Lavazza IncluCity Festival

Walking around the area were samples from Campari, Baci delicious chocolates, Lavazza Cold Brewed Coffee, Gentil Uomo’s Italian soups, Barilla Orzo with Rio Mare Tuna and Hamilton Watches.

• Film Screening Highlight: The Eight Mountains – A Tale of Friendship and Self-Discovery

Then we sat down for the screening of The Eight Mountains (Le Otto Montagne), directed by Felix Van Groeningen and Charlotte Vandermeersch, who co-adapted from the novel by Paolo Cognetti. The film won the Jury Prize at the 2022 Cannes Film Festival. 

It was so much fun relaxing on the comfortable sofas with our own personal headsets while listening to the film‘s audio on a warm summer night. The film is a touching tale of friendship and self-discovery, delving into the lives of Pietro from Turin, who spends the summer Grana in the Italian Alps and Bruno, a mountain-reared boy who lives in the village with his aunt and uncle. Pietro’s father, Giovanni, takes both boys hiking on the glacier and offers to school Bruno in Turin. However, Bruno’s father takes him away, and both boys do not see each other until adulthood. Their lives take separate turns after childhood. In the meantime, Pietro becomes estranged from Giovanni while Bruno becomes quite close to him. Years later, Pietro learns Giovanni has passed away and heads back to Grana and reconnects with Bruno. They work together to complete Giovanni’s dream home on the mountaintop, and Pietro declares it to be a summer home for both of them to use. Bruno takes over his uncle’s land and lives the life of a mountaineer. Pietro continues to write and introduces Bruno to his friend Lara from Turin. Bruno and Lara become a couple and raise their daughter Anita. Pietro continues on to Nepal. After Pietro’s book is published, he returns to Grana and tells Bruno about the Nepalese belief of the Eight Mountains surrounding the central mountain.

Life’s challenges continue for Bruno, who remains committed to life in the mountains. Later, Pietro learns of Bruno’s passing after a snowstorm covers the house. Returning to Nepal, Pietro mourns the loss of his friend and of his father, who both loved the mountains. 

• Breathtaking Cinematography and Transformative Experience at the Lavazza IncluCity Festival

The film‘s cinematography featured breathtaking shots of the majestic mountains and lush landscapes intertwined with human frailties. The film was a wonderful and transformative experience that left all of us thinking about what friendship means to us.

Lavazza IncluCity tickets are available at https://icff.ca/box-office/

(photos by Sari Colt)

Lavazza IncluCity Festival – Celebrating Diversity and Inclusion in Toronto’s Historic Distillery District

Lavazza IncluCity Festival – Celebrating Diversity and Inclusion in Toronto’s Historic Distillery District

Lavazza IncluCity Festival – Celebrating Diversity and Inclusion in Toronto’s Historic Distillery District

Lavazza IncluCity Festival – Celebrating Diversity and Inclusion in Toronto’s Historic Distillery District

Lavazza IncluCity Festival – Celebrating Diversity and Inclusion in Toronto’s Historic Distillery District

Lavazza IncluCity Festival – Celebrating Diversity and Inclusion in Toronto’s Historic Distillery District

Lavazza IncluCity Festival – Celebrating Diversity and Inclusion in Toronto’s Historic Distillery District

Lavazza IncluCity Festival – Celebrating Diversity and Inclusion in Toronto’s Historic Distillery District

Lavazza IncluCity Festival – Celebrating Diversity and Inclusion in Toronto’s Historic Distillery District

Lavazza IncluCity Festival – Celebrating Diversity and Inclusion in Toronto’s Historic Distillery District

Lavazza IncluCity Festival – Celebrating Diversity and Inclusion in Toronto’s Historic Distillery District

Lavazza IncluCity Festival – Celebrating Diversity and Inclusion in Toronto’s Historic Distillery District

Lavazza IncluCity Festival – Celebrating Diversity and Inclusion in Toronto’s Historic Distillery District

Lavazza IncluCity Festival – Celebrating Diversity and Inclusion in Toronto’s Historic Distillery District

Lavazza IncluCity Festival – Celebrating Diversity and Inclusion in Toronto’s Historic Distillery District

Lavazza IncluCity Festival – Celebrating Diversity and Inclusion in Toronto’s Historic Distillery District

Lavazza IncluCity Festival – Celebrating Diversity and Inclusion in Toronto’s Historic Distillery District

Lavazza IncluCity Festival – Celebrating Diversity and Inclusion in Toronto’s Historic Distillery District

Lavazza IncluCity Festival – Celebrating Diversity and Inclusion in Toronto’s Historic Distillery District

Lavazza IncluCity Festival – Celebrating Diversity and Inclusion in Toronto’s Historic Distillery District

Lavazza IncluCity Festival – Celebrating Diversity and Inclusion in Toronto’s Historic Distillery District

Lavazza IncluCity Festival – Celebrating Diversity and Inclusion in Toronto’s Historic Distillery District

Lavazza IncluCity Festival – Celebrating Diversity and Inclusion in Toronto’s Historic Distillery District

Lavazza IncluCity Festival – Celebrating Diversity and Inclusion in Toronto’s Historic Distillery District

Lavazza IncluCity Festival – Celebrating Diversity and Inclusion in Toronto’s Historic Distillery District

Lavazza IncluCity Festival – Celebrating Diversity and Inclusion in Toronto’s Historic Distillery District

Lavazza IncluCity Festival – Celebrating Diversity and Inclusion in Toronto’s Historic Distillery District

Lavazza IncluCity Festival – Celebrating Diversity and Inclusion in Toronto’s Historic Distillery District

Lavazza IncluCity Festival – Celebrating Diversity and Inclusion in Toronto’s Historic Distillery District

Lavazza IncluCity Festival – Celebrating Diversity and Inclusion in Toronto’s Historic Distillery District

Lavazza IncluCity Festival – Celebrating Diversity and Inclusion in Toronto’s Historic Distillery District

Lavazza IncluCity Festival – Celebrating Diversity and Inclusion in Toronto’s Historic Distillery District

Lavazza IncluCity Festival – Celebrating Diversity and Inclusion in Toronto’s Historic Distillery District

Lavazza IncluCity Festival – Celebrating Diversity and Inclusion in Toronto’s Historic Distillery District

Lavazza IncluCity Festival – Celebrating Diversity and Inclusion in Toronto’s Historic Distillery District

Lavazza IncluCity Festival – Celebrating Diversity and Inclusion in Toronto’s Historic Distillery District

Lavazza IncluCity Festival – Celebrating Diversity and Inclusion in Toronto’s Historic Distillery District

Lavazza IncluCity Festival – Celebrating Diversity and Inclusion in Toronto’s Historic Distillery District

Lavazza IncluCity Festival – Celebrating Diversity and Inclusion in Toronto’s Historic Distillery District

Lavazza IncluCity Festival – Celebrating Diversity and Inclusion in Toronto’s Historic Distillery District

Lavazza IncluCity Festival – Celebrating Diversity and Inclusion in Toronto’s Historic Distillery District

Lavazza IncluCity Festival – Celebrating Diversity and Inclusion in Toronto’s Historic Distillery District

Lavazza IncluCity Festival – Celebrating Diversity and Inclusion in Toronto’s Historic Distillery District

Lavazza IncluCity Festival – Celebrating Diversity and Inclusion in Toronto’s Historic Distillery District

Lavazza IncluCity Festival – Celebrating Diversity and Inclusion in Toronto’s Historic Distillery District

Lavazza IncluCity Festival – Celebrating Diversity and Inclusion in Toronto’s Historic Distillery District

Lavazza IncluCity Festival – Celebrating Diversity and Inclusion in Toronto’s Historic Distillery District

Lavazza IncluCity Festival – Celebrating Diversity and Inclusion in Toronto’s Historic Distillery District

Lavazza IncluCity Festival – Celebrating Diversity and Inclusion in Toronto’s Historic Distillery District

Lavazza IncluCity Festival – Celebrating Diversity and Inclusion in Toronto’s Historic Distillery District